Any thoughts on VF positioning?

[woof woof]

Just a bit of background...

I bought a GF1 but after a brief honeymoon period I decided that back screen shooting wasn't for me. I moved to a G1 and I'm happier with the VF even if I remain more than a little irritated with the lenses. I've always thought that my ideal would be a rangefinder form camera with the VF to the left of the body rather than a SLR style centre position but up until recently the options for RF style cameras have been limited to the Nex 7 which I feel was hampered by the lack of a 30/35mm f1.4/1.8... but one is on its way... and the Fuji XPro1 which I feel has been hampered by hobbled AF and MF... but a new and improved model and firmware fixes for the original may cure these issues.

So now, and for the first time, there seem to be viable RF style camera systems with VF.

But now that I'll soon have a choice including RF style cameras I'm actually starting to have a rethink and wonder if I'd really like to go back to that layout. The SLR layout of cameras such as the G1 wasn't my ideal choice but as the form factor is quite compact it's actually quite easy to shoot with even in portrait mode.

I'll have to do some thinking and maybe dig out my old film compacts and see which format, RF or SLR style, I think I'll be happiest with.

What are your preferences and thoughts on RF v SLR style?

 

[ernesto]

I prefer SLR style and for the following reasons;

- Grip for right hand
- Position of button on angle on the grip so naturally falls under finger
- Because of above two items I find that when raising camera to eye it requires no change of grip on camera whereas with RF I seem to have to reposition hand to get finger in place for shutter.
- Central view finder. I am left eyed (is there such a thing?, but I always use left eye) so don't make use of left eye to look around with right eye through viewfinder. If I did this would be better on RF style I guess.